บทที่ บทที่ 370 · How Sir Galahad met with Sir Launcelot and Sir Percivale,

. How Sir Galahad met with Sir Launcelot and Sir Percivale,

and smote them down, and departed from them.

So when Sir Galahad was departed from the Castle of Maidens he rode

till he came to a waste forest, and there he met with Sir Launcelot and

Sir Percivale, but they knew him not, for he was new disguised. Right

so Sir Launcelot, his father, dressed his spear and brake it upon Sir

Galahad, and Galahad smote him so again that he smote down horse and

man. And then he drew his sword, and dressed him unto Sir Percivale,

and smote him so on the helm, that it rove to the coif of steel; and

had not the sword swerved Sir Percivale had been slain, and with the

stroke he fell out of his saddle. This jousts was done to-fore the

hermitage where a recluse dwelled. And when she saw Sir Galahad ride,

she said: God be with thee, best knight of the world. Ah certes, said

she, all aloud that Launcelot and Percivale might hear it: An yonder

two knights had known thee as well as I do they would not have

encountered with thee. Then Sir Galahad heard her say so he was adread

to be known: therewith he smote his horse with his spurs and rode a

great pace froward them. Then perceived they both that he was Galahad;

and up they gat on their horses, and rode fast after him, but in a

while he was out of their sight. And then they turned again with heavy

cheer. Let us spere some tidings, said Percivale, at yonder recluse. Do

as ye list, said Sir Launcelot.

When Sir Percivale came to the recluse she knew him well enough, and

Sir Launcelot both. But Sir Launcelot rode overthwart and endlong in a

wild forest, and held no path but as wild adventure led him. And at the

last he came to a stony cross which departed two ways in waste land;

and by the cross was a stone that was of marble, but it was so dark

that Sir Launcelot might not wit what it was. Then Sir Launcelot looked

by him, and saw an old chapel, and there he weened to have found

people; and Sir Launcelot tied his horse till a tree, and there he did

off his shield and hung it upon a tree, and then went to the chapel

door, and found it waste and broken. And within he found a fair altar,

full richly arrayed with cloth of clean silk, and there stood a fair

clean candlestick, which bare six great candles, and the candlestick

was of silver. And when Sir Launcelot saw this light he had great will

for to enter into the chapel, but he could find no place where he might

enter; then was he passing heavy and dismayed. Then he returned and

came to his horse and did off his saddle and bridle, and let him

pasture, and unlaced his helm, and ungirt his sword, and laid him down

to sleep upon his shield to-fore the cross.